When I Made This Playlist: gingers

When I made this playlist, I was 21 and interning in Edinburgh for the summer. I was trying to hold onto that version of myself who felt most comfortable in her own skin when living abroad. I was trying to be someone I wasn't i.e. someone who wanted to work in politics. I'd just let my best friend give me bangs. I'd just gotten my first Mac. I'd just bought Viva La Vida. I'd just kissed a Scotsman. 

At Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the Scottish Highlands.

I was prone to using my American accent to get free drinks at my favorite haunts. I always listened to "Four Kicks" by Kings of Leon on my walk to work, which unfortunately included a trek across the windy South Bridge where I had countless Marilyn Monroe moments. I lived in New Town before moving to Old Town behind a bright blue door by the Meadows. Rainy days were spent cozied up in The Elephant House by a window with a view of Edinburgh Castle, hoping some of J.K. Rowling's writing magic had seeped into the tables or maybe their famous shortbread, and sunny days meant Marks & Spencer picnics in the Princes Street Gardens with my roommate Anna. She and I were always on the lookout for gingers, hence the name of this playlist, and Scotland seemed happy to oblige us.

Sadly, I could not find the acoustic version of McFly's "POV," which is infinitely better... :(

I've listened to this a lot this week and it's brought back so many happy, ridiculous, and embarrassing memories. This is why I'm always making playlists. Because music tells me better than anything else "where I was" at a certain point in my life. This mix is a bit all over the place, because I was too. But it's a bit unique to all my other playlists, because each and every song was actually collected with the rest in one specific place. And now if you care to meander down Memory Lane with me a little longer... When I made this playlist...

mardi muse: Wicked

98% of the time, I know exactly what I'll be listening to on the drive to work before I get to my car. But today I was in rare form and inspiration didn't strike until my seat belt clicked into place. "Aha! Wicked!" Whether it's because it feels like it's been five years since I've actually listened to the soundtrack or because I associate Tuesdays with New Girl and there's that great bit with Winston singing along to it when he thinks he's alone in the car (side note: this is me whenever I listen to Wicked (and by me I guess I really mean everybody!)), I was definitely belting this on the highway.

I still consider this to be the best poster on Broadway. (x)

Now I know fairy tale retellings are the "in thing" right now (don't get me wrong, I love this!), but Wicked is kind of the hipster that did it before it was cool. Like I said, I've not listened to it in ages, but it was still so fresh. From the opening "No One Mourns The Wicked" that manages to immediately immerse you in this strange and wonderful world of Oz, to "Dancing Through Life" that still makes me want to wear sparkly things and dance around with a wand, and of course "Defying Gravity," the story is so solid and so strong. I can't think of a single weak point. The character development is just flawless. Flawless! Or should I say magical? I just love that even though I'm so familiar with the story that since I had a bit of distance from it, songs like "The Wizard And I" still managed to make me cry before I fully emerged from my pre-coffee zombie state. I was battling a serious case of Claire Danes-esque wobbly chin! But I am not ashamed! No. Because it's important to surround yourself with stories that affect you and have a positive impact. And the fact that this one's in musical format, well, that's just a bonus! 

So why is this masterpiece my mardi muse? Well not only was it a great start to the day, but it got the wheels turning for one of the stories I've got on the back burner. The more I let this story sizzle in the background, the more I feel like it might just work as a kind of fairy tale retelling... I'm starting to think this might be the right direction for it... Hmm...

P.S. Did anyone else burst out crying when they saw "Defying Gravity" live? OHMYCREYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

take me home

In two days I will be back home in sweet ol' Georgia! This will be a much needed break from Baltimore and a huge distraction from NaNoWriMo. It's going to take a ridiculous amount of discipline to get me to 50,000. Because not only will I be dealing with this and No Man's Land, but... there's another distraction...

The new One Direction album! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHfLKDFJLSKJFLSFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aww they all look like future fictional heart-throbs!

I don't even care! Their music makes me CRAZY HAPPY!!! I just want to dance and run and scream and name all the love interests in my YA stories after them! So the timing of this album couldn't be more horrible. I just want to listen to it all the time, but the tone doesn't go at all with what I'm writing. I've got to keep myself trenched in these movie scores, not arm flailing to "Kiss You" and dreaming of beachside bonfires with my friends and these baby Brits. Just kidding. I don't do that. I don't really sing along in my car imagining how we'll be imitating Niall's Irish accent, rolling up our jeans over our ankles to mock Louis in a loving way, seeing how many things we can stuff in Zayn's hair without him noticing, learning dance moves from Harry to help us not look like fools when we go salsa, and teaching Liam what a s'more is (because he's useless). I mean...

This album would be incredibly useful if I was working on a more modern project involving lots of teen love for perfectly coiffed boys who look like they've stumbled out of a J.Crew ad for Hogwarts. Alas! I am working on a fantasy novel with none of these elements... *le sigh*. Next time! Next time there will be a story that requires me to really tap into that riot of teenage emotions and thus have them on constant repeat in the name of "resarch." And there will be no judgement! That being said, when this month is over, there will still be a big One Direction dance party in celebration of 50,000 words!

And now because I have a new affection for him and just because I can, here is Harry in full life-ruiner mode.

IS THIS A DREAM SEQUENCE IN A YA NOVEL?!?!

But I'll never leave you, Louis!!! You and your French sailor attire are always giving me a "Heart Attack" (and perhaps inspiration for mini fan fics that I post *gasp* publicly). FACT. Oh... kay... Will I regret this post in the morning? Haha... nope.